Time-switch apparatus for gas burners



Dec. 30, 1930. a. B. COLLIER 1,787,422

TIME SWITCH APPARATUS FOR' GAS BURNERS Filed March 23, 1528 5 Shoots-Shoot 1 BY Maw-M A rroRA/E Y5 Dec. 30, 1930.

G. B. COLLIER TIME SWITCH APPARATUS FOR GAS BURNBRS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed larch 23, 1928 A Trek/v5 Y5 G. B. COLLIER 1,787,422 TIME SWITCH ARPARATUS Fox GAS BURNERS Dec. 30,- 1930.

Filed March 23. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 a. a. COLLIER 1,787,422

nus swn'cn Arnurus FOR as BURIBRS Dec. 30, 1930.

Filed March 23. 1922 .5 sheen-sheet 4 INVE/VI'OR 60v 3 COAL/7? v WWW ATTOR/VE Y5 G. B. COLLIER Dec. 30, 1930.

TIME swucn APPARATUS FOR GAS aumlsns s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 23, I928 //VVf/V7"OR Guy 8 (cu/ER By W M r1 lllllll IL 7 down the main mined intervals. v

Patented Dec. 30,1930

1 UNITED fSTl-ATES GUYB. COLLIER, OFJKINfDERHOOK. NEW YORK; CHARLES SAGER coLLIER, on cn vY PATENT OFFICE CHASE, MARYLAND, AND ELVIRA BREWSTER COLLIER, OF EW YORK, N.

.ExEcUzroRs or SAID any B. COLLIER, nRcnAsnn TIMESWITCH APPARATUS-FOR GAS 'BURNERS Application filed March 23, 1928. Serial No. 264,107.

' The present invention. relates to 1' time switch apparatus for regulating the flow to a gas burner and more particuiarly to apparatus which automatically turns up and burner flow at predeter- It is the object of the present invention to provide improved and'simple means, within the appa1'atus,"whe1'eby the size of the low flame of a burner maybe regulated to suit various working conditions and permitt ng,

fromjany particular setting, the-automatic changing from low flame to full flow of gas at desiredtimes.

dNiththese objects in'view the various features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obviousto thoseskilled in the art from the following description. V

In the preferred form of theinvention V 1' representsan interior front elevation'of the improved apparatus Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section; Fig; 3 is a top view of the apparatus partly in section and excluding the clock movement and some other parts for simplicity; Fig. 4 is an interior elevation of the upper part of theapparatus, omitting detail features of the timing dials; Fig 5 shows part of a top view of the valve housing whereinthe changes in] gas flow take place; Fig. 6 is an end elevation ofthevaIVe within the-housing showing some features in part section; Fig; 7 is a back elevation of the self seating valve; Fig. 8 gives an elevation of part of the valve-housing,i showing the valve'port thruwhich the gas flows. p The essential features of the construction shown in'the illustrated embodiment of the invention consists of aivalve housing 1 having suitable openings to pipe gas to and from, connected to an enclosing case-2 wherein is situated aclock movement 3 and a timing 45 mechanism operated thereby and arranged tolacton operating levers which impart; at predetermined times,a rocking-movement to the-valve shaft contained within the neck of the fvalve housing.

The clock movement, the timing mecha 90, Figure 6, is rigidly fastened to one end of the valve shaft 7, while an adjustable bell crank unit 80 is secured to the end of shaft 7 within case 2. An adjusting stop screw 70. supported on a'frame attached within case 2 is arranged to Contact with the pin on the arm of the bell crank unit and thus limits the closing swing 'whichadj u stable construction permits the valve unit to completely shut off I rocking movement of the valve shaft on its the flow of gas, or the swing of the valve can be stopped at various positions which do not entirely shut off the flow, and thus provides for regulating the size of the idle or night flame of the main burner.

Referring now more in detail. to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout; the clock mechanism 3 may be of thestandard S-daytype provided with back frame 30, middle frame 31 and front'frame '32 separated by studs of the type 33 and 34 shown clearly in Fig. 2, while legs 35- serve to secure the clock'movement 3 to the back plate 10. g

The gear 36 of the main spring barrel of the clock movement 3 is arrangedto mesh with a pinion 40 on the clutch shaft41, journaled at 44 and 45 in the clutch frame 42 which is vsecured tOfthB back'plate 10 by screws43.

Near the front end of shaft 41 is a pinion 46 rigidly fastened to the same, While pinion 40 is held in friction engagement with shoulder occasions to adjust the dial to register the. I

correct time of day, as will be explained. An idler pinion 411 journaled on a screw 412' is fasencd to the 'clutch'treme 42' in such a manner as to mesh with the pinion 46, and also the Off dial gear of the timing mechanism which is driven through this arrangement.

As shown in Fig. 1 both dials and 51 are marked to indicate hours and each dial is provided with a setting indicator 54, the position of its point denotes the time on the respective dial. at which the valve shaft 7 will be rocked for On or Off, and/ or Up and Down as the case may be thus the Off movement is set for 7:45 p. 111. while the next following On movement is set for 6.20. a. m., the points be ing at top vertical positions when the events take place. Pointer secured toback plate 10 indicates the time of day, as 2.85 a. m.; if for any reason the time indicated by 55 does not agree with standard time, the position of the dials should be rotated to make the reading correct; this is accomplished by applying a clock key to end 410 of clutch shaft 41 which permits the movement to be made in dependent of gear 36, as previously explained.

The dial 50 and gear 52 are secured to a hub 56 journaled on a stud 57 which is fastened to the back plate 10; while dial 51 and gear 53 are secured to a hub 58 ournaled on a stud 59 which is fastened in the back plate 10, wire pins 500 keep. these units in place on the studs. Adjacent the back of each dial gear is a lifting arm 501 arranged to pass freely over the hubs 56 and 58, and these arms serve to carry lifting arm pins and the setting indicators 54.

he Off lifting arm pin 508 and the On lifting arm pin 504 have a body portion 505 which constitutes a shoulder relative to the threaded portion 506 as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4. That part of the threaded portion of 506 which is received by the arm 501 locks the boss part of the setting indicator 54 securely betweenthe arm 501 and the body part 505 of the lifting arm pin, this results in the point part of member 54 remaining fixed with reference to the arm. An annulus region 507 is cut in each dial and gear thus permitting the threaded portion 506 of the pin to be rotated therein with the object of placing the setting indicators at desired times while the thumb nut 502 on the outer portion of 506 serves to lock the arrangement in desired positions so that it rotates with the dials, thus enabling the clock movement 3 to perform work through the timing mechanism.

The timing mechanism above described acts directly upon a tripping lever which it raises to a vertical position, at times denoted by the setting indicators, whereupon it is permitted and assisted by a release lever to fall in the direction of rotationthatbrought it up. During the falling movement of the trippinglever contact is made with a locking lever which .in turn moves and holds the bell. crankarm of the valve shaft in a rocked position opposite that iniwhich it previously lay;

In order to accomplish the movements above outlined I employ the following simple constructions and arrangements of part The tripping lever 60 has arms 61 and 62 near its lower end which is secured to a hub 63 ournaled on stud 64 held by back plate 10 in such a position that lifting arm pins 503 and 504 will contact once each 24 hours with 61 and 62 and thus raise-tripping lever 60toits vertical position.

A weight65 is attached at upper end of lever 60, the falling of which supplies part of the power to produce movement of the members above referred to, while tripping lever pin 66 is rigidly fastened to 60 and contacts with and moves the locking lever to be further described; a second or release pin 67 is rigidly fastened to the tripping lever 60 and constantly bears against the wedge shaped part 111 of the release lever 110 whose opposite end is secured to a hub 112 journaled on stud 113, held by back plate 10. A coiled spring 114 surrounds this hub, has one end fastened to pin 115 in stud 113, while its other end 116 engages the release lever 110 in such a manner that there is considerable tension in the spring causing 111 to bear firmly on release pin 67, with the result that ordinary jarring will not let the tripping lever move past dead center of wedge until rotation of the dial gears has brought member 60 to correct position, an instant after which both the'weight 65 and the wedge portion 111 serve to throw the tripping lever to its low position, opposite that which it previously was lifted from; thus in Figs. 1 and 3 the tripping lever is shown in Off position, wherein valve shaft 7 has been rocked so that the valve unit 90 has shut off the flow of gas, or reduced it to the idle flame value.

The adjustable bell crank unit 80 is seecured to valve shaft 7 by a screw 81 passing thru hub 83 of member 80 whose arm 82 fits tightly about end 84 of the hub, as shown in Fig. 4. A pin 85 rigidly fixed in hub 83 pr0- trudes thru slot 86 of a circular cam piece 87 which is partly recessed into arm 82 and is held between arm 82 and hub 83, and can be t-urnedby applying a screw driver to slot 89 of the cam piece. This construction permits a small rotation of arm 82 relative to shaft 7 and thus allows for adjustment so that the bell crank pin 88 whose body part 885 is rigidly secured to arm 82 will rock to about equal distances to each side of the vertical in the opening and closing positions of valve stem 7. y

The locking lever 120 is preferably a stamping containing anopen region 121, near its lower end, so shaped as to provide a slot 122 which receives the bell crank pin 88, thus permitting a rocking of valve shaft 7 when lever 120 is rocked. The lower part of region 121 is recessed so as to provide a small free arc of rotation 124 with refer- .126 held by plate 10, while its upper endcarries a weight 127 which holds it at end positions of its swing, thuslocking the valve screw 70 can contact with thebody part.

.ence to stud 123 held by backplate 10, this construction allows the locking lever freedom of rotating while it contactswithj pin 88, and also prevents the locking lever from swinging much beyond, its working range when the unitary movement is withdrawn from case 2. The lower end oflocking lever 120 is secured to a hub 125 journaled on stud stem against movement until caused by the tripping lever whose pin 66 moves within the open region 121 and causes lever 120 to rock upon striking the sides of the open space.

- -From the foregoing evident that the size of the. idle or night flame of the main burner can be regulated by limiting the swing of the .pin 88b in the OK or Down position of the valve stem, asindicated clearly in Fig. 3. This is readily accomplished by turning the adjusting stop screw 70 held in an L-shaped frame .71 which is fastened insideof case 2 by 'screws 72 and 73 and so positioned that left hand end ofstop 88?) of the bell crankpin 88.,Unscrewing of stop screw 70 .will decrease the size of the idle flame of main burner, and after reaching a certain position flow to the main,

burner will be completely shut off by valve unit 90 ;-for such type of service a pilot light supply to the main burner is conveniently taken from opening 6 of the valve housing 1, thus providing means of ignition when flow to main burner is turned on at time set by indicator 54:. c "It is frequently desirable. to

keep theqnain burnerj lighted all the time, and then the switch just described simply changes from full flowposition of valve, indicatedin Fig. 4 to the idle or night flame position indicated in Fig. 3. 'The valve stem 7 is conveniently supported in neck of valve housing 1 by front and rear bushings 75 and 76 respectively, between which are suitable packing washers 77 to afford lubrication and to prevent flow of as along stem 2 V and into case 2. An opening 8 is provided for purpose'of oiling the packing when re quired.

The self seating valve unit illustrated in Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 7 comprises an L-shaped,

frame 91 rigidly fastened. to valve stem 7 and having an U-shaped frame 92 secured on its top by'a rivet 93. A swivel block 94.- is suspended in frame 92 by ournal screws 95 and 96 thus permitting the block to turn aboutthe screw ournals in adjusting itself forrotation about a horizontal axis when the valve is closing port 5. A frame 97 lying within ting an adjustment rotation about a vertical against port 5 9 by rivet 132; thus 130?) and 131?) show the position of seat-and cup when the valve'is; and completely shutting olii fiow'of gas.

The valve unit just described is especially V suited to valve ports 5 whose diameter is relatively large, and-embodies features of construction wherein thescat 130 can ad ust itself to: the'plane of port 5 by freedom of rotation about a horizontal axis, sothat imperfections in the rigid assembly of parts described will not prevent the correct closing "of port 5 by seat 180. I y

A spring 133 fastened to swivel block 94 by screws 134 and 135 extends downward and makescontact' with screw 136 passing thru a part-137 of frame 92,. which construction provides a means ofstopping cup 131 from tipping too far towards port 5, 'while pin 138 in frame 92prevents a swing too far away from port 5; thus, theposition of cup 131is held within narrow limits of rotation about the axis of journal screws 95 and 96; Pin 4 rigidly fixed in valve housing 1 limits the total opening swing of valve unit to a value a little larger than that imposed by stud 123 and are 124 previously described.

What I claim is: 1 A 1. .In. a timing mechanism, a clock-driven dial havingan annular slot therein, a rotatable, adjustable lifting arm rearward of said dial carrying a time setting indicator mounted co-axially with said dial and extending through said slot and means for holding the time setting arm in. adjustable position in said slot comprising a screw bolt passing through said slot, and having threaded engagement with said arm and binding said arm to said dial.

2( In a gas flow time-controlling apparatus, apair of oppositely rotating slotted dials each provided with an adjustable lifting arm, pins carried by said lifting arms, sai'd arms carrying a timesetting 1nd1cator, means for holding same-in adjusted position in its respective slot, a tripping lever having wings engaged bysaid pins',a spring controlled release lever hav ng a \I-shaped portion arranged to bear upon a pinof the tripping lever preventing it passing dead center posia pin connected with the locking lever which holds thevalve shaft in its rocked positions, a clock mechanism, and-connections for rotating the dials; I j '3. In a gas flow tiniescontrolling apparatus, a pair of oppositely rotating slotted A dials, an adjustable lifting'armcarrying a time setting indicator associated with each of said dials, a valve shaft,.means forholding same in adjusted position in its respective slot, an arm connected thereto and having a pin received by the locking lever, which moves and holds the shaft in rocked positions, a tripping lever having wings engaged by the lifting arms, connections between tripping and locking lever for imparting abrupt movements to the latter, a spring-controlled wedge faced lever to release and accelerate the tripping lever at predetermined times, a clock mechanism, a clutch mechanism interposed between the clock mechanism and the dials rotated thereby.

4:. A gas flow time-controlling apparatus, comprising a pair of oppositely rotating dials each provided with an adjustable lifting arm carrying a time setting indicator pro truding thru an annular slot in the dial, a valve port, a valve unit carrying a valve seat, a valve shaft secured to valve unit, a bellcrank arm having connections to alocking lever and secured to the valve shaft, a trip ping lever having wings engaged by the lifting arms, a connection between tripping and locking lever for imparting abrupt rocking motion to the latter, a spring-controlled wedged faced lever for controlling and ac celerating the operative throw of the tripping lever, a clock mechanism and connections for rotating the dials, and means for limiting the closing swing of the valve seat.

5. A gas flow time-controlling apparatus, a pair of oppositely rotating slotted timing dials each provided with an adjustable lifting arm, pins carried by said lifting arms, said arms carrying a time setting indicator, means for holding same in adjusted position in its respective slot, a clock mechanism ineluding a main spring gear, a clutch shaft having an annular shoulder formed thereon a pinion meshing with the main spring gear, a spring holding the pinion in yielding engagement with the shoulder, permitting the shaft to be turned independently of the main spring gear, a second pinion secured to the clutch shaft and meshing with a third or idler pinion directly rotating the timing dials, a frame for supporting the clutch shaft and idler pinion, a valve shaft, operative connections between the dials and valve shaft for rocking the latter at required times.

6. A gas flow time-controlling apparatus having in combination a valve port, a valve unit carrying a seat and secured to the valve shaft, a lever fastened at the opposite end of the shaft, a frame, an adjusting stop screw supported therein, a pin connected to arm of the bellcrank and arranged to contact on its closing swing with the adjusting stop screw, permitting the valve port to remain slightly uncovered to give required flow of gas for idle flame of the main burner, and means for varying the position of said lever upon said shaft to vary the throw thereof upon either side ofthevertical.

7. A gas flow time-controlling apparatus having'in combination a valve port, a valve unit carrying a flat seat secured to a valve shaft androcked thereby, an arm fastened at the opposite end of the valve shaft, a frame, an adjusting stop screw supported herein, means on said'arm including a lever arranged to contact on the closing swing of said arm with the adjusting stop screw, a clock mechanism, a timing mechanism driven thereby, operative connections between pin of bellcrank and the timing mechanism whereby the former is rocked at predetermined times, and means for Varying the position of said lever upon said shaft to vary the throw thereof upon either side of the vertical.

' 8. In a. timing mechanism, a clock-driven dial having an annular slot therein, a rotatable, adjustable lifting arm rearward of said dial carrying a time setting indicator -mounted co-axially with said dial and extending through said slot, and means for holding the lifting arm in adjusted position comprising a thumb nut or the like in front of the dial and engaging a screw bolt passing through said annular slot and holding said lifting arm at the back of the dial.

9. In a gas flow time-controlling apparatus, a shaft, a valve unit secured to said shaft,

an arm secured thereto, a clock mechanism and an operative connection including a bell crank lever between said clock mechanism and said arm to cause said shaft to rock at predetermined times, adjustable means for limiting the closing swing of the valve shaft to maintain the valve partly closed, together with means for varying the position of said bell crank upon said shaft to vary the throw thereof upon either side of the vertical.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature to this specification.

. GUY B. COLLIER. 

